Arles Kilcruise get the better of Timahoe and the weather

Laois Intermediate Football Championship 'B' Final 

Arles Kilcruise 1-7 

Timahoe 0-5 

By Laois Nationalist Reporter 

THE much-maligned Laois Shopping Centre Intermediate 'B' Football Championship came to a conclusion on Thursday night, with Arles Kilcruise finishing as worthy winners. The scoreline actually flatters Timahoe, who were never really at the races.

Played in truly abysmal conditions at Crettyard, the game was well and truly put to bed when Jamie Conway raised a green flag for Arles Kilcruise in the 53rd minute of this entirely forgettable ‘B’ final.

Timahoe came into the game as the reigning and defending champions after winning last year's Intermediate 'B' without kicking a ball when Ballyroan Abbey gave them a walkover. But the 2024 final will be remembered for some of the worst conditions imaginable to try to play football, as Arles Kilcruise, led by Ross Munnelly, ran out commendable winners.

Both sides suffered defeat in the quarter-finals of the championship proper sending them in to this competition, where Timahoe beat Portlaoise in their semi-final. Meanwhile, Ballyroan Abbey once again stepped aside, this time giving Arles Kilcruise the walkover directly into the final.

The sides met earlier in the season when Arles Kilcruise were victorious in the first round, and once again on Thursday night, they had Timahoe's number.

Horrendous weather greeted the sides in Crettyard, and the elements played as integral a part as anyone on or off the field. The wind, the rain, the cold, and soft surface were never going to facilitate a high-quality game, but in fairness to the players they braved the conditions and did all in their power to put on a decent night’s entertainment.

Arles Kilcruise went in search of scores early but saw three consecutive shots pulled wide of the posts thanks to a gale-force wind. It took ten minutes for the sides to break the deadlock, which Pauric Ramsbottom mercifully provided, kicking Timahoe in front.

When Arles Kilcruise finally got on the scoreboard it was two quick-fire scores from a pair of full backs, first Cialan Mulhall and then Conal Brennan. That incredibly strong wind then played to Arles Kilcruise's advantage when PJ Lawlor kicked a point from long-range, carried over by the wind. There was a fourth straight point for Arles Kilcruise when Laois legend, Ross Munnelly, landed a beautiful score with the outside of his foot.

The second half came to a close with players slipping and sliding all across a seriously mucky pitch. Timahoe were trailing 0-4 to 0-1 at the break and would need to take full advantage of the wind in the second half.

Jimmy O’Connor, Mick Kennedy and Pauric Ramsbottom began the second half well, but Timahoe struggled to break down Arles Kilcruise, despite enjoying the lion's share of possession. The score did finally come for Timahoe midway through the half thanks to a curled effort from Conor Whelehan.

Ross Munnelly dropped back into the Arles Kilcruise midfield shortly afterwards and helped start a great team move that saw Mick O’Shea play in Darragh Kealy to restore the three-point lead.

Ben Byrne-Slattery then punched over a sixth point for Arles Kilcruise, and from the resulting kick-out came Jamie Conway to fire the ball beyond Eoin Culliton into the Timahoe net with just seven minutes remaining.

Munnelly pointed a free before Timahoe managed to put together a late flurry. Conor Whelehan, Conor Fitzpatrick and a Colum Dunne all pointed in the closing stages.

SCORERS:

Arles Kilcruise: Jamie Conway 1-0, Ross Munnelly 0-2 (0-1f), Ben Byrne-Slattery, Darragh Kealy, PJ Lawlor, Conal Brennan and Cialann Mulhall 0-1 each.

Timahoe: Conor Whelehan 0-2, Colum Dunne (f), Conor Fitzpatrick and Pauric Ramsbottom 0-1 each.

ARLES KILCRUISE: Simon George; Mick O’Shea, Conal Brennan, Cialann Mulhall; Ethan Mackey, Jamie Conway, Ben Byrne-Slattery; Mark Wall, Alan McLoughlin; Aodhan Lowry, PJ Lawlor, Jack Behan; Ross Munnelly, David Conway, Daragh Kealy.

Subs: Caomhan Brennan for Wall (ht), Conor George for Lowry (45m), Kevin Meaney for McLoughlin (55m), Liam Whelan for D Conway (57m), Rob Lovett for Kealy (58m).

TIMAHOE: Eoin Culliton; Joe Foyle, Eoin Shortall, Padraig Kelly; Conor Whelehan, Damien O’Connor, Jimmy Whelehan; Sean Ramsbottom, Colm Lalor; Mick Kennedy, Joe O’Connor, Enda Shortall; Pauric Ramsbottom, Colum Dunne, Jimmy O’Connor.

Subs: Robbie Foyle for Enda Shortall (40m), PJ Daly for Kennedy (40m), Conor Fitzpatrick for Joe O’Connor (49m), Luke Devitt for Kelly (58m).

Referee: Des Cooney (St Joseph’s).